His first four stand ups (Animals, Politics, Fame, Science) were pretty good, especially Animals. But the last of those must've been 15+ years ago so has been a while since I'd consider his stand up work any good! The last few have purely been about selling as many tickets as possible by saying stuff that gets headlines.
I really liked Ricky Gervais in the early 2000s. The Office was obviously goated, and then the XFM and podcasts with Karl Pilkington and Steven Merchant are something I still listen to all the time today. I also enjoyed Extras.
He's gone from being a very down to earth, funny, innovative mind to becoming the exact type of insufferable irritating bitter boring celebrity he would have taken the absolute piss out of in the XFM days.
I must be really boring, I really like Micky Flanagan, I find him hilarious. Of all the others mentioned I do really like James Acaster, saw him live last year. I do really like Henning as well btw, will probably go to his show.
Agree re Nish, Rob and Romesh, they are ok at best. Can't stand Ricky Gervais, don't find him funny and he's so stuck up his own backside it annoys the hell out of me ! I didn't even find The Office that funny.
As a rule I don't get on with comedy songs, but I love Shuttleworth. When i first moved to the East Midlands I was delighted to discover that the fictional places he name-checked (Crich Tram Museum, Dronfield Woodhouse, Eckington) were actually real.
And I've never heard a better opening line to a comedy song than, 'She lives in hope... but she used to live in Barnsley'.
Slightly disappointed that the debate so far has only included discussions about male comedians. There are some pretty good female comedians out there as well I’ve heard…
Having said that I’d easily vote for Jerry Sadowitz as making me laugh louder and longer than any other comedian. (Alcohol may have been involved…)
Shuttleworth is one of the finest. I once found myself listening to The A1111 while actually driving on the A1111 - the closest thing to proof of a divine almighty possible.
If you want a balanced view I will throw my vote for Lucy Beaumont who I saw recently. Excellent comedian who I saw recently. I think she’s still touring.
Lucy Beaumont was on Richard Osman's House of Games recently. The answer to her question was the letter O. But the answer she gave sounded like 'errrrgh'. I think I'd need subtitles for one of her gigs.
We've got tickets to see Sarah Millican in May (booked a year ago). Might need a translator for that as well.
The best act we saw recently was Bill Bailey at the Swan. A very funny comedian, and an extremely talented musician. We also saw Milton Jones there, but he was disappointing, not as funny as his Mock the Week appearances.
Comments
His first four stand ups (Animals, Politics, Fame, Science) were pretty good, especially Animals. But the last of those must've been 15+ years ago so has been a while since I'd consider his stand up work any good! The last few have purely been about selling as many tickets as possible by saying stuff that gets headlines.
I really liked Ricky Gervais in the early 2000s. The Office was obviously goated, and then the XFM and podcasts with Karl Pilkington and Steven Merchant are something I still listen to all the time today. I also enjoyed Extras.
He's gone from being a very down to earth, funny, innovative mind to becoming the exact type of insufferable irritating bitter boring celebrity he would have taken the absolute piss out of in the XFM days.
Yes, Paul Foot is superb and a proper oddball.
He is. Saw him live at some tiny little place the other year, great fun.
+1 for Paul Foot. One of the best live comic I’ve seen in recent years.
James Acaster is very entertaining.
I assume Nish has the same agent as Romesh and Rob Beckett...who seem to get every job going.
Stewart Lee was at the Wycombe Swan the other week, he was absolutely superb as usual.
Daniel Kitson is the best stand up I've ever seen by some distance.
Missed Lee this time round...him and Russell Kane (another acquired taste) are my live favourites. Must admit I've never seen Daniel Kitson.
His radio stuff/podcasts with Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington were tremendous
Correct. Kitson is the best.
I must be really boring, I really like Micky Flanagan, I find him hilarious. Of all the others mentioned I do really like James Acaster, saw him live last year. I do really like Henning as well btw, will probably go to his show.
Agree re Nish, Rob and Romesh, they are ok at best. Can't stand Ricky Gervais, don't find him funny and he's so stuck up his own backside it annoys the hell out of me ! I didn't even find The Office that funny.
Romesh Ranganathan’s sitcom was ‘Mrs Brown’ levels of badness. Rob Beckett is everywhere at the moment - hats off to his agent.
Any other John Shuttleworth super fans out there in the pantheon of comedy songwriters he’s up there with Flanders and Swann imo.
I wonder if he still owns the Austin Ambassador?
The audience at a Shuttleworth gig look like they could be in one of the radio episodes.
I resemble that remark.
Billy Dainty is also excellent but hasn’t toured since his death in 1986.
There is the Ebeneezer Goode video
https://youtu.be/7b2T8K2D-ps?si=-Tc4Xvqm7WUE28OI
As a rule I don't get on with comedy songs, but I love Shuttleworth. When i first moved to the East Midlands I was delighted to discover that the fictional places he name-checked (Crich Tram Museum, Dronfield Woodhouse, Eckington) were actually real.
And I've never heard a better opening line to a comedy song than, 'She lives in hope... but she used to live in Barnsley'.
The Brough Rest Area by John Shuttleworth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiePTbsNbvE
I can confirm that this is real because I've been there.
(I didn't go as a pilgrimage, just happened to be passing by and pulled in. It's rubbish)
Slightly disappointed that the debate so far has only included discussions about male comedians. There are some pretty good female comedians out there as well I’ve heard…
Having said that I’d easily vote for Jerry Sadowitz as making me laugh louder and longer than any other comedian. (Alcohol may have been involved…)
I think he has upgraded to a Morris Ital.
Used to love Shuttleworth. Good few years ago now. Norden Farm the last time.
Shuttleworth is one of the finest. I once found myself listening to The A1111 while actually driving on the A1111 - the closest thing to proof of a divine almighty possible.
If you want a balanced view I will throw my vote for Lucy Beaumont who I saw recently. Excellent comedian who I saw recently. I think she’s still touring.
As the vague theme of this thread is Wycombe and comedy I suppose Jimmy Carr should get a mention.
And the Mighty Boosh started in High Wycombe.
So that's that.
Lucy Beaumont was on Richard Osman's House of Games recently. The answer to her question was the letter O. But the answer she gave sounded like 'errrrgh'. I think I'd need subtitles for one of her gigs.
We've got tickets to see Sarah Millican in May (booked a year ago). Might need a translator for that as well.
The best act we saw recently was Bill Bailey at the Swan. A very funny comedian, and an extremely talented musician. We also saw Milton Jones there, but he was disappointing, not as funny as his Mock the Week appearances.
Mock the Week is a genuinely awful show
Can't Go Back to Savoury Now is a big favourite in our house.
I saw Sindhu Vee a couple of years ago, very funny, especially whens she's talking about parenting.
Nina Conte with her monkey actually had me in tears of laughter.
He did take a look at a Morris Ital but it was an X reg and that wouldn’t do.
A classic